In Putin’s circle, there are proposals to end the war with Ukraine and limit the influence of the security services – NYT

In Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle, there are voices suggesting ways to resolve the military conflict with Ukraine and limit the powers of Russia’s security agencies.

This was reported by The New York Times, citing its sources.

The article focuses on Dmitry Kozak, the deputy head of the Russian presidential administration.

According to the outlet, Kozak initially believed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a mistake and tried to dissuade Putin from it. More recently, he has openly urged the Russian leader to end the war.

“This year, according to Kremlin insiders, Kozak told his colleagues that he had presented Putin with a proposal to cease hostilities and hold peace talks. They added that Kozak also made it clear that he had strongly urged Putin to carry out domestic reforms, including strengthening oversight of Russia’s security agencies and creating an independent judiciary,” the article says.

The NYT notes that Kozak was once a highly influential Putin ally — overseeing Sochi’s preparations for the Olympic Games and helping to “integrate” Crimea into Russia. However, his authority has now been significantly reduced, in part due to his position on the war in Ukraine.